Plant Blindness: An American Epidemic With Real Ecological Consequences
Daily Kos • • science
Key Points:
- Many common plants viewed as harmless or attractive, such as Asiatic bittersweet, Porcelainberry, wisteria, Callery pear, and Japanese knotweed, are invasive species causing significant environmental harm.
- Invasive plants are overtaking large areas, especially in the Northeastern US, destroying native habitats, reducing wildlife populations, and undermining ecosystem resilience due to their poor ecological functions like shallow roots and inadequate water retention.
- Certain invasive species, like English ivy and Japanese barberry, contribute to public health issues by providing habitat for the white-footed mouse, a carrier of tick-borne diseases.
- Japanese knotweed's aggressive root system can damage property foundations, leading to restrictions such as mortgage denials in places like England, a scenario that may soon become common in the US.
- State legislators in Albany are becoming increasingly aware of the invasive plant crisis and show a willingness to learn and address this growing environmental catastrophe.